Veterans will be honored at Nicodemus

11/21/2012

Special to The Hays Daily News

NICODEMUS -- On Saturday, Nicodemus National Historic Site and Nicodemus Historical Society will honor veterans of Nicodemus from 1 to 3 p.m. at Township Hall. Veterans from past to present will be remembered and honored through presentations and exhibits. Displays will feature photographs of soldiers of the Civil War, Buffalo Soldiers, World War I, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. Memorabilia will include uniforms, military papers, artifacts and books.

A theatrical performance of "The Life and Times of the Buffalo Soldiers" will be presented by Angela Bates and Barrie Tompkins of the Nicodemus group.

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Special to The Hays Daily News

NICODEMUS -- On Saturday, Nicodemus National Historic Site and Nicodemus Historical Society will honor veterans of Nicodemus from 1 to 3 p.m. at Township Hall. Veterans from past to present will be remembered and honored through presentations and exhibits. Displays will feature photographs of soldiers of the Civil War, Buffalo Soldiers, World War I, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. Memorabilia will include uniforms, military papers, artifacts and books.

A theatrical performance of "The Life and Times of the Buffalo Soldiers" will be presented by Angela Bates and Barrie Tompkins of the Nicodemus group.

Bates and Tompkins are well known for their inspiring presentations about African-Americans who broke down barriers while serving their country.

Tompkins is the president of the Nicodemus Buffalo Solider Association, and Bates is an African-American Western history historian.

Other presenters include Nicodemus residents and descendants Tom Wellington, a Vietnam veteran; Victor Williams, a veteran; and Bertha Carter and Donald Moore, who are members of the Nicodemus American Legion and Auxiliary. Dave Schafer, the National Park Service's acting superintendent at Nicodemus NHS, will speak about black troops serving in Kansas regiments during the Civil War.

Saturday's schedule includes and 11 a.m. showing of "The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars." Ozzie Davis narrated this 60-minute documentary film that was produced by PBS in 2004.

The event is free to the public.

To learn more, contact Nicodemus National Historic Site at (785) 839-4233 or (785) 839-4321 or visit www.nps.gov/nico.

The park, open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is located on U.S. Highway 24, 13 miles east of Hill City and 19 miles west of Stockton.